Pap after the Hyst

I asked my doc pre-op about the paps (TVH, so no more cervix). He told me that sometimes the cervical cells can "blend in" with the surrounding cells and can later become cancerous as they cannot get all the microscopic cells. Having never had an abnormal pap, when I have my year post-op pap, if that is also normal, I will then only have them every 3 years just to make sure. I'd rather put up with it "just in case" than the alternative of not having something caught in time. My mom had her hyst 30 years ago and still has ANNUAL paps even though she has never had an abnormal one. Guess the docs figure "better safe than sorry."

My doctor said that if his hysterectomy patients had risk factors for cervical cancer, they must have annual PAP tests even though they didn't have a cervix. Risk factors are exposure to HPV (human papilloma virus), multiple sex partners, and family history. He looked at me hard and said that even without those risk factors, he would recommend PAPs for every woman, just to be safe.
I plan on continuing to have PAPs.


isewquilts

I don't have to have paps anymore. No cervix and I have never had an abnormal pap smear.

sunnykat,

Please continue to have regular pap smears. There is no guarantee that you will be cancer-free for life. Please read what some of your "sisters" have written about women who have still developed cancer after their cervix was removed.

Carol